Warp guide bar mechanism

ABSTRACT

A control apparatus for use in a Raschel machine for effecting movements of the guide bar and comprising a pair of spaced bars which are bodily movable up and down relative to the sahft about which they oscillate; and on which the guide bar can slide with a reciprocating motion.

United States Patent Perrier [15] 3,681,943 [451 Aug. 8, 1972 [54] WARP GUIDE BAR MECHANISM [72] Inventor: Augustin Perrier, 31 Rue Heno'n,

Lyon, France [22] Filed: March 5, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 16,882 [30] Foreign Application Priority Data March 6, 1969 France ..6906 175 [52] US. Cl. ..66/86 [51] Int. Cl. ..D04b 23/00 [58] Field of Search ..66/84, 85, 86, 87, 154

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,410,113 11/1968 Bassist ..66/84 3,464,236 9/1969 Bassist ..66/84 Bruce et a1 ..66/86 X 3,456,461 7/1969 Offermann et a1 ..66/86 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,135,985 12/ 1956 France ..66/86 888,702 I/ 1962 Great Britain ..66/86 Primary Examiner-Ronald Feldbaum Attorney-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak ABSTRACT A control apparatus for use in a Raschel machine for effecting movements of the guide bar and comprising a pair of spaced bars which are bodily movable up and down relative to the sahft about which they oscillate; and on which the guide bar can slide with a reciprocating motion.

6Clains,4Drawing1iigures PATENTEDAUB 8 nan 3.681.943

sum 1 or 2 WARP GUIDE BAR MECHANISM This invention relates to apparatus, controlled by compressed fluid, for imparting to the pile bar of a Raschel machine the movement which is necessary for it to knit with one or two needle rows, a velvet or a plush with a close pile.

Applicants copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 882,245 filed Dec. 4, 1969. describes a method of knitting which makes it possible to manufacture on a Raschel machine with one or two needle rows, a velvet or plush with a close pile. This method attempts to facilitate the manufacture, on a Raschel machine, of fine gauge plushes and, consequently, of velvet with a close pile. For this, the aforesaid Pat. application Ser. No. 882,245 makes it possible to impart to the guide bar of the pile thread, a three-dimensional movement comprising a reciprocating and oscillating movement,

to which there is added an alternating vertical movement.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus controlled by compressed fluid for imparting to the pile bar the aforementioned three'dimensional movement, and in particular its ascending and descending components.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus adapted to be interposed between the guide bar for the pile thread of a Raschel machine, and the mechanisms controlling the reciprocating movement and the oscillating movement, comprising supports integral with the oscillating beating shaft, double-acting rams connected to the supports, which rams or jacks are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the oscillating shaft, spaced bars parallel to the oscillating shaft, and supported by the jacks so that they may be bodily displaced whilst retaining their spacing, brackets slidable along the bars with a reciprocating motion, and a guide bar connected to the brackets and adapted to be directly coupled by a swivel connection to the mechanism for controlling the reciprocating movement.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the double-acting jacks are supplied from a single reservoir with a fluid under pressure which may be oil or compressed air. If compressed air is used, it may be advantageous to introduce between the reservoir and the jacks, distribution chambers intended to ensure the synchronized movement of the jacks.

The commencement of movement of the jacks in one direction or the other is obtained from a distributor of known type driven by the movement of the machine.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a part-sectional elevation of the apparatus according to the invention where the guide bar for the pile thread is raised;

FIG. 2 is a similar view when the pile bar is in the lower position;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing diagrammatically the position of the pile thread under the hook of a needle of the machine, when the apparatus according to the invention is in the upper position of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a similar view showing the passage of the pile thread under the latch of the needle when the mechanism is in the lower position of FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing one of the ends of the apparatus from the side where the pile bar is connected to the coupling controlling the reciprocating movement.

The apparatus shown in the drawings is hung on the.

and 6 connect respectively to distribution chambers 7 or 8. These chambers are reservoirs and are connected by means of a distributor 9 to a single pipe 10 receiving a compressed fluid from a source which is not shown (arrow 11). This fluid may be constituted by compressed air or by oil for hydraulic control.

The cylinders 4 of the jacks are both connected in parallel to the distribution chambers 7 and 8.

In each cylinder 4 slides a piston 12 with a piston rod 13 extending from both ends. At one of its ends, the rod 13 mounts a bearing 14, while at its opposite end it has a bearing 15. The two bearings 14 are connected by a bar 16, while a similar bar 17 connects the two bearings 15. The bars 16 and 17 are both parallel to the oscillating shaft 1 and they serve as guides for the perforated slidable brackets 18. These brackets are perpendicular to the oscillating shaft 1 and at their lower end, are fixed on the back of a guide bar 19. Guide needles 20 on this bar 19 are used for guiding the pile thread 21 of the plush or velvet which it is proposed to knit.

The bar 19 is provided at one of its ends with a swivel 22 (See FIG. 5) which a pivoted lever 23 connects to a known coupling (not shown) of a mechanism of the usual type for imparting to the guide bar 19 a reciprocatory motion (FIG. 5, double arrow 24).

The oscillations of the shaft 1 (double arrow 2) the reciprocatory movement of the lever 23 (double arrow 24) and the release of the distributor 9 are controlled in synchronism with the general movement of the machine, the means used for ensuring such synchronization being known.

The operation is as follows:

At the beginning of the knitting cycle, the pipes 6 are under pressure, which keeps the guide bar 19 raised (FIGS. 1 and 3). There is then imparted to this bar in the normal manner, its reciprocating movements (double arrow 24) and its oscillating movement (double arrow, 2; FIGS. 3 and 5). Thus, the pile thread 21 is passed under the hook of the needles 25, whose latches 26 are open. Then in order to press the pile, the distributor 9 is reversed in order to send the pressure into the pipes 5 (FIGS. 2 and 4), which has the effect of lowering the guides 16 and '17 and consequently the guide needles 20 of the bar 19 (FIG. 4, arrow 26). The pile thread 21 thus escapes from the open latches 26 and it passes below them on the shaft of the needles 25.

The knitting cycle continues by the lifting of the guide bars 16 and 17, on which may slide the brackets 18 of the guide bar 19. The complete knitting cycle is described in the aforementioned US. Pat. application Ser. No. 882,245.

It can be seen that the apparatus according to the invention does not have any member housed at the level 3 of the guide bars which makes it possible tosave space and to knit with a very fine gauge.

The apparatus which has been described may also be used on Raschel machines with a single needle row as on other machines with two needle rows.

What is claimed is: bars 1. Apparatus for controlling the movement of a guide bar for the pile thread of a Rachael machine having mechanisms controlling the reciprocating movement and the oscillating movement of the guide bar comprising an oscillating shaft, supports integral with the oscillating shaft, double-acting fluid operated jacks connected to the supports, which jacks are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the oscillating shaft, spaced bars parallel to the oscillating shaft and supported by the jacks so that they may be bodily displaced whilst retaining their spacing, brackets slidable along the bars with a reciprocating motion, and a guide bar connected to the brackets and adapted to be directly coupled by a swivel connection to the mechanism for controlling the reciprocating movement.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the double-acting jacks are supplied in parallel from a single source of fluid under pressure. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the fluid under pressure is oil. 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the'fluid under pressure is compressed air.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising, between the reservoir and the jacks, distribution chambers intended to ensure the synchronous movement of the rams. I

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a distributor operated in synchronism by the movement of the machine.

III t t 

1. Apparatus for controlling the movement of a guide bar for the pile thread of a Rachael machine having mechanisms controlling the reciprocating movement and the oscillating movement of the guide bar comprising an oscillating shaft, supports integral with the oscillating shaft, double-acting fLuid operated jacks connected to the supports, which jacks are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the oscillating shaft, spaced bars parallel to the oscillating shaft and supported by the jacks so that they may be bodily displaced whilst retaining their spacing, brackets slidable along the bars with a reciprocating motion, and a guide bar connected to the brackets and adapted to be directly coupled by a swivel connection to the mechanism for controlling the reciprocating movement.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the double-acting jacks are supplied in parallel from a single source of fluid under pressure.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the fluid under pressure is oil.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the fluid under pressure is compressed air.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising, between the reservoir and the jacks, distribution chambers intended to ensure the synchronous movement of the rams.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a distributor operated in synchronism by the movement of the machine. 